Prime Minister Narendra Modi was yet to grant an appointment for a meeting with an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu to discuss the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said here on Sunday.
Mr. Palaniswami, who was in Salem to lay the foundation for a memorial to late AIADMK leaders M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, said that soon after the Supreme Court’s verdict, the State government convened a meeting of the leaders of all political parties and farmers’ organisations to discuss the Cauvery issue. The meeting had unanimously resolved to seek an appointment with the Prime Minister to convey the State’s demand for the constitution of the CMB and the CWRC within the deadline set by the Supreme Court.
“We wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, enclosing a copy of the resolution adopted at the all-party meeting, requesting him to grant us an appointment to discuss the constitution of the CMB and the CWRC. We also sent another letter reminding him of our request for an appointment. Till now, we have not received a reply,” the Chief Minister rued.
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Mr. Palaniswami noted that the State government had moved a contempt petition in the Supreme Court as the Centre did not constitute the CMB within the six-week deadline. The Supreme Court has since directed the Centre to frame a draft scheme for implementing its verdict by May 3.
He expressed hope that the Centre would abide by the Supreme Court’s directive.
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On splinter groups
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Both T.T.V. Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and V. Dhivakaran’s new outfit would disappear soon, Mr. Palaniswami said.
Addressing reporters, he said these outfits won’t have a long innings in politics as they wouldn’t enjoy the people's support.
Within days of announcing his outfit, Mr. Dhinakaran began facing rifts within his party. So how long it lasts remains to be seen, the CM said.